Rio De Janeiro, Brazil

Escadaria Selarón

My Expectations Were Not Met in Rio.

I had such high expectations for Brazil because it has been on my travel bucket list for as long as I can remember. Much like the location, the idea of visiting seemed so far away. I decided that for my 40th birthday, Rio de Janeiro would be my destination. Initially, I wanted to visit Rio and Salvador de Bahia on the same trip, but time limitations made this impossible, so I only visited Rio.

When I arrived at the airport in Rio I saw so many beautiful Brazilians that looked like me. I thought to myself “The melanin here is on another level!” Unfortunately, because I stayed in a tourist area, I barely saw anyone else who looked like me during my stay which was disappointing. Additionally, outside of the service workers I encountered, I did not find that the locals were warm or friendly.

Where To Stay:

I stayed at the Windsor California Copacabana. This hotel was across the street from Copacabana Beach and along the strip. The hotel was very clean, and the staff was helpful. I stayed in a standard room with two single beds. So there was no view, and the room was small. However, the bathroom was spacious, and the water pressure was superb. The hotel also has a rooftop pool that I did not get to enjoy because it rained the first few days that I was there, and the remaining days, I took full advantage of exploring the city. I did not eat at the restaurant in the hotel, but I ordered room service on a rainy day, and I was not impressed at all by the food.

I stayed in Copacabana because when I booked my trip, it was going to be a solo trip, so I wanted to stay in a more touristy, safe area. However, I recommend staying in Ipanema. I really liked that area. It reminded me of the village in New York City. It is along the beach as well. Ipanema Beach is also where you want to be to catch some amazing sunsets.

What I Ate:

Honestly, I didn’t get to try any authentic Brazilian food because I stayed in a touristy area. I believe Rio is one of those places where you should be with a local to experience the city's authentic culture. However, I didn’t have that luxury on this trip, and I did not feel it was safe enough for me to explore solo as I have done in other countries, mainly because I do not speak Portuguese fluently (yet).

I tried a few recommended places; those were my least favorite options. One option was Gringo Cafe, and the other was  Marius Degustare. Gringo Cafe is fine if you want an American-style breakfast, but you won’t find much seasoning in the food.

Marius Degustare was a fun experience. The decor inside the restaurant is unique and quirky. The staff is super fun and accommodating as well. They bring around different meat and seafood until you can’t bear the thought of seeing food anymore. Personally, I didn’t think the food was great, but the drinks made up for it. This place was pricey, but you get a lot of food, and you're paying for the experience! This is fun for birthdays or milestone celebrations.

My favorite restaurants were within walking distance of my hotel, and I ate at these places multiple times during my stay because they were that good! Vino Copacabana Wine Bar, QCerviche Rio, and Don Camillo were the best restaurants I tried in the Copacabana area. However, on my last night, I ventured into Ipanema and tried Oia for my birthday dinner, which was excellent! I highly recommend all of these food spots. You will not be disappointed.

Things I Did:

I always book different tours and experiences to join while visiting a new city to get an authentic vibe of the city. Although I lost about two days due to the rainy weather, I was able to do a few things before leaving Rio.

Tour of Little Africa: This was my favorite tour, and there was no way I would leave Rio without doing it. I learned so much about the Black History of Brazil. I thoroughly enjoyed it and highly suggest this tour to anyone traveling to Rio.

-Sunset Cruise: During this tour, the weather was cloudy from the rain earlier in the day, so it was cold and gloomy on the boat. However, the boat captain and the people I met on the tour were lovely, and I still had a great time. I would still recommend this tour, but be sure to check the weather first!

-Christ the Redeemer Tour with Photographer: This tour was described as an early morning tour that gave access to Christ the Redeemer before the crowds. While we did get there early, many other tour guides sold that same package, so you still stood in a long line waiting for the place to open. It gets VERY crowded quickly, and you end up standing in many lines waiting for your turn at a perfect shot. Overall, seeing one of the world's wonders was cool and not an opportunity most get in their lifetime.

-Escadaria Selarón and Cultural Walking Tour (with a local Photographer): This was my second favorite tour, mainly because of the amazing photographer. The pictures came out amazing, and the photographer explained much about the history of the areas we walked through within Rio.

Things to Note:

English is not spoken in Rio. Outside of tour guides, you will not find anyone who speaks English. Make sure you have a translator app and that you set it to translate Brazilian Portuguese as opposed to European Portuguese. Also, make sure to download Google Maps so that you can navigate the city on and offline. Uber is relatively cheap here and the most convenient way to get around.

Overall, I feel blessed and thankful to have visited a place that I thought I would only experience in my imagination. It seemed like a distant place that I would only see in the movies. Rio is not a place I would visit again, but I am grateful for the opportunity to visit.

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